This was a fast-paced read, with a great mystery, the complexity of friendships and sisterhood, and the importance of communication. I was riveted by this story and felt like the characters were very multi-dimensional and believable. I was saddened by the final twist, but I really loved how all the questions were answered at the end, and there was a resolution. This was such a charming tribute to the power of friendship and the courage to apologize and make things right.

I highly recommend this book! It focuses on a neurodiverse child and gives insights into how these children think. Having neurodiverse children, and being neurodiverse myself, I felt this book was very insightful, and can be helpful to neurotypical people in understanding a different way of thinking!!

There was a lot that I really loved about this book. The plot was so well done I did end up reading the sequel too. However, I felt that sometimes the main character was written overboard to the stereotypes of a neurodivergent person. I don't know, maybe I was reading too much into it. Others would probably have differing opinions. I just want to make sure that kids read realistic and well done interpretations of ADHD & Autism. If you are just in it for the story, you are in for a ride!

This book was so good! Frankie is a well written and complex autistic character who many students might be able to relate to. The mystery was attention grabbing and kept me wanting to read more and find out what was going on. The ending was devastating but really good- I could see this book helping kids who face loss and pain. I think it is more geared towards middle schoolers than late elementary.

Tornado Brain is told the perspective of a non-neurotypical girl and the author does a great job of conveying what that is like in a natural way. The mystery behind Frankie's friend's disappearance was suspenseful and heartbreaking.

Frankie is a 7th grader with sensory processing disorder, autism spectrum disorder, and an obsession with tornadoes. These facts never seemed to bother her until middle school when she has a falling out with her best friend, Collette. Now Collette is missing, and Frankie might have been the last person to see her, and maybe the only person who can find her. With the help of her twin sister, Tess, Frankie tries to retrace Collette’s footprints in hopes of solving the mystery of her disappearance.
Cat Patrick does an amazing job of creating an authentic neurodivergent character without resorting to stereotypes. Neurodivergent main characters are not common, and that alone makes this book stand out from other middle grade picks. Readers of all abilities will relate to Frankie and her struggles to feel like a “normal” teenager, to make friends, or to fit in with her classmates. All in all a great read!

the main character in this book is on the spectrum and has ADHD, her issues seem to be straight off the teachers checklist for children with ADHD. I am not sure if that makes this story more authentic or not. The story is told from the POV of 7th grade Frankie. She has trouble making friends and frequently argues with her mother and is jealous of her sister. Tornado Brain paints her life so difficult, this makes some of this text hard to get through. Readers looking for a mirror about a character with ADHD may not get the portrayal that want.

Excellent book with a neurodiverse main character who, in process of helping to find a missing friend, learns that she has value and that her sister really is a good friend and advocate. The storyline was engaging and will likely keep most grade 6-9 readers intrigued as a town searches for a missing girl. The added benefit to all will be a greater understanding of what it like to be in the shoes of someone who has sensory processing difficulties. I would highly recommend this book to libraries serving junior high readers, especially if mysteries and realistic drama is highly sought. Younger readers will also enjoy this one, but due to the lack of maturity in my particular population, I can see this book becoming one that is the source of great sneaky laughter and handing around when someone discover the section on the onset of Cat's period and her embarrassment and help from her twin when this happens. A sad commentary on my kiddos, but a sad truth. I did some online research in an effort to determine if author Cat Patrick has personal experience with those who live with neuro-diversity, but was unsuccessful one way or another so I do not know if this book fits in with the #ownvoices movement. No profanity, excessive violence or sexual content. Thanks for the dARC, NetGalley.

This was an excellent book. I liked the neurodiverse main character and tornado facts at the beginning of each chapter.

The story is told by Frankie, who is neurodiverse and is the first to tell you that things are complicated. She has typical friendship issues that are made more complicated by how she views life. In fact, her friendships are so complicated, she's not speaking to her best friend. Who seems to have been taken over by another two girls... one of them being Frankie's twin sister. But then her best friend disappears. And the reason she disappears may have something to do with Frankie.
This is absolutely a complex story with some deeper issues. Kids who enjoy heartprint books and mysteries will love Frankie's story.

*Content note at the end of this review contains a spoiler.
Frankie doesn't experience the world like everyone else, especially emotions. She struggles between the person she is and the person she wants to be. And when her former best friend goes missing, Frankie reacts differently than people expect. But her unique way of viewing things may help solve the mystery of what happened to Colette.
This book was so helpful to read, to help me better understand some of the challenges faced by neurodiverse individuals. I recognize that it of course cannot represent the thoughts or obstacles of every person with the same kinds of labels as Frankie, but it can help expand the way that readers think about, understand, and empathize with those whose brains work differently than theirs.
And of course, among these aspects, Tornado Brain is a story about growing up and figuring out who you are and what's important to you. It's about exploring the world around you and learning how to be okay with your place in it. Plus you can learn some cool facts, myths, and opinions about tornadoes.
Content note: Death - may be upsetting for sensitive readers.

13-year-old Frankie and Tess are twins, but Frankie has something different about her. She is neurodivergent and to other kids she can seem a bit different. Frankie had a best friend, Colette, but the two had a falling out and Frankie is mad at her. Just before the end of 7th grade, Colette goes missing. Can Frankie and Tess find Colette in time. Will the police be any help? How are Frankie and Tess involved in Colette’s disappearance? The characters are loveable, realistic, and make the reader see the world through their eyes. The plot is engaging and shows what one views as a weakness can be a strength. Narrator, Jorgeana Marie does a great job of capturing the main character and her personality. Readers who enjoy realistic fiction, mystery, and suspense will enjoy reading this book.

Please note: This was a review copy given to us by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. No financial compensation was received.

Although I really enjoyed this story, I will no longer be reviewing books with neurodiverse characters unless they are written by ownvoices authors as I don't feel qualified to comment on the representation. Since I cannot determine if this book falls into that category, I will refrain from making any comments at this time.

Although not for every student, I feel like this is a good middle school book for dealing with loss of a friend.
It also gives an interesting portrayal of a main character who is not neurotypical, especially showing her thought-process and how little of that is expressed verbally. I don't feel that I'm in the position to comment on whether the portrayal is accurate or not and I'll be keen to read reviews by people who have had experiences closer to that of Frankie's.
The mystery part was interesting but I guess I was unprepared for how heavy the ending was. It was very accurate, but heavy.

This book was hard to put down! It was one of those books you’d want to skip work for, so you can keep on reading. The sibling relationships, the friendship dynamics and the insight into the mind of the main character drew me in and kept me enthralled. The suspense of the mystery of the missing friend also kept the pages turning.

Life is more difficult when you don't like to be touched, get easily distracted, and have difficulty containing your emotions. It's especially difficult to make friends. Frankie used to be friends with her perfect twin sister Tess and her best friend since forever Colette. But things are different now. After Colette goes missing, Frankie and Tess band together to find her and in the process they'll maybe just understand each other a little bit better.

It took a little while to get into Frankie's perspective but once I did and Colette was deemed missing, the story took off. I couldn't get enough of the fast paced nature of this mystery. I flew through the pages. Meanwhile, I got to know a completely different outlook on life with the struggles Frankie faced daily. She tried so hard to control her emotions like she was taught to but it's difficult for her to not want to scream when she doesn't feel heard. As a main character, Frankie was fascinating. Her POV vs. her parents, sister's, and other around her made me empathetic towards her. How frustrating it must be to try to do better and no one seems to notice. There was a lot of good moments and discussions around being neurodiverse. I especially liked seeing her interactions with her mother and seeing her parenting style with a neurodiverse daughter. The drama and friendship aspect were really well done. I thought it captured the complexities of having friends as a teenager and let's be honest, in life. I enjoyed the facts and myths about tornadoes in the beginning of each chapter. It truly makes me want to read books on tornadoes now.

Tornado Brain had many great things going for it but it missed so many opportunities. I know the main purpose of this book was to get an understanding of Frankie rather than see her grow but it was something that could have been examined to a wider degree. I felt like Colette and her sister were trying so hard to be kind and considerate of Frankie's feelings but she didn't reciprocate. I know by the end of the story, she was sorry for the way she acted but I don't know if she showed it enough for me as a reader. There was also a heartbreaking moment where her mother tells her "Please remember to be kind." and Frankie asks in her head, "Do you think I'm a mean person?" Why was that not explored later on in the story? Frankie obviously needed to have a heart to heart with her mother, but where was it? Lastly, my main criticism of this story is - are you kidding me with that ending? I was getting emotional towards of the end of the story, but then that completely stopped because of how everything was resolved. I don't feel like Frankie even seemed to care because when asked how her summer she responded that it was mostly good. Excuse me? How could it be? I love emotional stories so for me to not like that ridiculous conclusion is saying something. I'm disappointed because I was genuinely enjoying this book.

Tornado Brain creates great discussion around the perspective of a neurodiverse character in a fast paced mystery but ultimately misses opportunities and has a disappointing conclusion.

I received this ARC from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Tornado Brain tells the story of Frankie (do NOT call her Frances). Frankie is a neurodivergent thinker who is struggling with having lost her only friend. Frankie and her twin could not be more different, and yet when their friend (or in Frankie's case, former friend) goes missing, their ability to be a comfort to each other is more apparent than ever.

I loved this book. I can't say enough good things about how I fell head over heels for Frankie. Her struggles, her desire to be "normal," her drive to access her strategies, to stay of medicine... She's an amazing character. I also appreciated that this book didn't end neatly. Sometime life is messy, and it's okay that Frankie's is a little messier than some.

This is a great story of friendship, personal challenges and a touch of mystery. It kept me turning pages without stopping! Frankie's journey will be one to remember!

This coming-of-age tale with equal parts mystery and friendship is told through the perspective of Frankie, a neurodiverse seventh grader. Patrick does a great job of getting the reader inside of Frankie’s head and one definitely sees what Frankie and others like her must deal with each and every day. Frankie is obsessed with tornadoes and finds comfort in them and her routines. When Frankie’s former best friend, Colette, goes missing, Frankie is determined to find her before it’s too late. With the help of her neurotypical twin sister Tess, Frankie’s unique skills allow her to pick up on clues that assist the police in their search for Colette. While Colette’s disappearance is very sad, it is also captivating and realistic. The grief experienced by the characters within is portrayed in both a sensitive and genuine way, depicting the process of grief while still emphasizing resilience and hope.

Frankie, a neurodiverse middle-schooler obsessed with tornadoes, is reeling from a betrayal by her twin sister and best friend Collette when Collette is reported missing. Frankie finds old videos that Collette has uploaded and is convinced that they will solve the mystery of where she went, but first she has to convince the police and her family to take her seriously.

This is an interesting, sympathetic look inside the mind of a protagonist on the autism spectrum, and it is especially interesting to read about Frankie's experience with Sensory Processing Disorder, since this condition, frequently co-occuring in individuals on the spectrum, isn't often covered in fiction. Frankie and her sister Tess feel real, and readers will empathize with the highs and lows of their relationship and of Frankie's relationship with Collette. Readers will also root for Frankie on her quest to uncover the truth of what happened to her friend as she has to prove that her insights are valid and not just the result of neurological disorders. The story is fast-paced and suspenseful; Frankie's frequent references to tornadoes give the impression that something monumentally awful is only moments from happening. The story is deceptively dark, but it feels authentic and has an ultimately satisfying conclusion. 10 to 14.